The scarab beetle was an exceedingly popular symbol in the art of Ancient Egypt, thought to represent the sun god, Ra. The Ancient Egyptians believed that the scarab beetle rolling its ball of dung across the desert mirrored the journey of the sun across the sky from day to night. As the beetle laid its eggs within the dung, it became a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. These scarab beetle amulets were made in various forms, such as heart scarabs, commemorative scarabs, and scarab amulets, thus catering to different functions. Many of scarab amulets have been found inside the wrapping of mummies to ensure a safe journey into the afterlife, but they were also used by the living for protection, power, or in order to have their wishes granted.
The sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a man, falcon, or ram, appears in Ancient Egyptian art as early as the 3rd millennium BC, during the Old Kingdom Period. It remains, to this day, one of the most iconic and recognisable motifs of Ancient Egypt. The sphinx, always male, is often depicted crowned and occasionally with wings. Dependent on its head, it could refer to the king, the sun god, or both simultaneously, with the falcon head representing Horus, and the ram’s head Amun. The falcon-headed sphinx, also known as a hierakosphinx, began appearing in Egyptian art and literature during the New Kingdom Period, becoming a sign of safety, wisdom, and power, bringing the protection of Horus to the temple, tomb, or wearer.
